Admit rate has ranged 86%–94% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Keuka College is a small, hands-on liberal arts college perched on the shores of Keuka Lake in New York's Finger Lakes region. Known for its experiential 'Field Period' program requiring real-world work each year, Keuka emphasizes practical learning in health professions, education, and social work. With a 68% acceptance rate and a tight-knit campus where 74% of students live on-site, it offers a quiet, community-focused alternative to larger universities.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
High school transcript
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
966
In-state tuition
$39,332
Out-of-state tuition
$39,332
Location
Keuka Park, NY (Finger Lakes region)
Acceptance Rate
68%
On-Campus Housing
74% of students
Signature Program
Mandatory annual Field Period (experiential learning)
Most Popular Majors
Social Work, Business, Special Education
6-Year Graduation Rate
58%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$58,289
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.4×
Median debt at graduation
$27,000
Graduation rate
58%
First-year retention
73%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
60%
Pell (lower-income) share
59%
First-generation share
38%
Endowment / student
$19,696
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$71,015
Business Administration, Management and Operations$39,639
Social Work$35,060
Criminal Justice and Corrections$32,569
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
4
Per 1,000 students
4.14
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
96
Summer high
80°F
Winter low
23°F
Annual rain
40.9"
Annual snow
44"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
50
Scholarly works
233
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
2.3%
Bottom → top quintile
18%
From bottom quintile
13%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Keuka College?
Keuka College's acceptance rate is approximately 68% (Keuka Park, NY), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Keuka College cost?
At Keuka College, the average net price (after aid) is about $24,338 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Keuka College?
Keuka College enrolls approximately 966 undergraduate students.
Where is Keuka College located?
Keuka College is located in Keuka Park, NY.
Admissions
Keuka College maintains a moderately selective admissions process with a 68% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants., admitting roughly two-thirds of its 2,901 applicants annually. The middle 50% of admitted students score between 940–1110 on the SAT or equivalent ACT scores, placing Keuka in the 'somewhat selective' category. The college operates on a rolling admissions basis, with no strict application deadline. Notably, 98% of first-year students receive need-based financial aid, with average awards around $6,304.
Keuka offers over 40 programs with a distinctive emphasis on experiential learning—every student completes a 'Field Period' each year, gaining hands-on experience in their discipline. The most popular majors cluster in practical fields: social work and youth services (93 graduates annually), business (38), and special education (30). The education department stands out for integrating cutting-edge teaching technologies, while occupational therapy and public administration programs show unusual specialization depth. Small class sizes and faculty mentorship define the academic culture, with every program requiring real-world application.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Life at Keuka revolves around its picturesque lakeside campus, where 74% of students live in college housing. The vibe is quiet and community-oriented—Niche reviews note limited nightlife but praise the tight-knit atmosphere. Student Life manages peer mentoring programs, Wolf Week orientation, and 30+ student organizations. With Division III athletics and outdoor activities leveraging the Finger Lakes setting, the college leans into its rural charm rather than urban excitement. Some students describe social life as 'subdued,' making it ideal for those seeking a focused, residential experience.
Keuka's 58% six-year graduation rate trails national averages slightly, but the college recently secured a $2M federal grant to improve retention. Early-career outcomes are strongest in human services: graduates earn $41,855 on average one year out, climbing to $61,303 after five years—notably higher than national benchmarks for similar colleges. The U.S. Department of Education reports median earnings of $42,800 a decade post-graduation, with social work and education majors dominating alumni outcomes. About 64% of students finish in four years, with another 5% completing by year six.
At $59,944 sticker price, Keuka's cost aligns with private college averages, but 89% of students receive aid that slashes the average Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. to $26,153. The college meets 98% of demonstrated need, with first-year packages averaging $6,304 in grants/scholarships. Work-study, loans, and institutional scholarships round out aid options—though the $28,397 average net price reported by MeetYourClass suggests many families still face significant out-of-pocket costs. The Net Price Calculator helps estimate individualized aid, but final packages require financial aid office review.
Keuka's defining feature is its mandatory Field Period—a 140-hour experiential learning requirement each year, ensuring every graduate enters the workforce with hands-on experience. The lakeside campus fosters an unusually close community (just 1,000 undergraduates) where professors know students by name. While not for those craving big-city energy, its strengths in occupational therapy, education, and social work—fields where 93% of graduates land jobs—make it a pragmatic choice for students seeking careers in human services. The recent $2M student success grant signals ambitious efforts to boost graduation rates while maintaining its career-focused DNA.
Keuka College logo · sourceKeuka College - A premier educational institution in New York's spectacular Finger Lakes wine country. · sourceKeuka College Announces $6M in Improvements to Campus Facilities | Keuka College · sourceVisitors and Guests to Keuka College | Keuka College · source
